No insanity defense in death of Roanoke lawyer

The man accused in the hit-and-run death of Roanoke lawyer Tom Farrell will skip an insanity defense.

Jeffery Young’s defense lawyer, Neil Horn, rested his case today without presenting any scientific evidence of his client’s mental condition, although Young’s mother testified that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Horn contends the prosecution’s circumstantial evidence fails to show any criminal conduct by Young.

Farrell was fatally injured during an early morning run last year. There were no witnesses and little physical evidence connecting Young’s car to the incident, but numerous witnesses testified as to Young’s strange behavior on the day of the incident.